Massager and manipulator



July 13, 1954 c. BRANDENFELS MASSAGER AND MANIPULATOB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1952 IN V EN T 0R. C GP] Bran d en 915 July 13, 1954 c BRANDENFELS 2,683,454

MASSAGER AND MANIPULATOR Filed Oct. 14, 1952 2 Sh9etS*-Sh88t 2 INVENTOR.

C012] Bran den fels Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES FFKTENT OFFICE MASSAGER AND MANIPULATOR Carl Brandenfels; St. Helens, Oreg. Application October 14, 1952, Serial No. 314,701

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to manipulating and massaging devices for use on the limbs, body and head of a human being and is specifically related to devices for toning up the tissues of the human body especially the scalp tissues.

This invention has also a close affinity to my United States Patent Number 2,657,686, dated November 3, 1953.

As stated in my co-pending application it is well known that hair, itself inert and consisting of the fibrous substance keratin, grows in tiny tubular shafts known as follicles which dot the scalp and penetrate into the scalp about half an inch. Each follicl forms a small bulb at its base, encasing a projection of tissue with tiny blood vessels called the papilla from which the hair draws its nourishment. Hair will continue to grow as long as the hair follicles remain undamaged, the follicle openings at the top of the scalp remain unimpaired and the hair roots receive a sufficient blood supply. The hair roots draw nourishment from several sources of blood supply going up into the scalp. Blood is furnished the scalp through the Y-shaped artery going up each side of the throat under th ears, one branch going behind the ears and up the scalp and the other branch going in front of the ears close to the ear lobes and up the scalp.

Blood is also furnished the scalp through an artery going up the back of the neck from the shoulders to the scalp.

Blood is also furnished the scalp through sources passing through What are called the diploic blood vessels inside the spongy tissue of the skull bones and furnish blood mainly to the back top of the scalp and to the high part of the temple on either side. All of these blood supplies branch out into a network of very tiny blood vessels, called the capillary system, part of which nourish the hair follicles. Sebaceous gland ducts entering the hair follicles provide lubrication for both the scalp and hair and unless the hair roots ar nourished by adequate blood supply and the openings at the scalp where the hair shafts emerge from the follicles are unimpaired, baldness usually results.

Baldness is largely caused by a diminution in mobility and tenseness in th scalp tissue usually caused by the stretching of the bony skull cap which compresses the blood vessels supplying the scalp and thereby impairing, if not entirely injuring, the cellular tissue and causing the degeneration of the hair follicles due to the lack of nutrition. Such a devitalized condition may be overcome by proper stimulation of the scalp and d the surrounding area of baldness, to induce the flow of an adequate supply of nutrients to the hair follicles,

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a device for the purpose of producing this stimulation by inducing an upwardly moving adequate supply of blood to the regions where the hair roots have not been completely destroyed and to restore circulation of this blood in the capillary system and to relieve tension in the scalp tissues.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for inducing artificial and lasting erythema by a dilation of the vascular system in the area under stimulation Without detrimental abrasive friction tending to break down the tissue or vascular system.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for stimulating the area being treated and immediately ahead by a smooth flowing pressure coordinated with the normal heart beat which flushes blood under pressure greater than normally pumped by the heart, and Without causing the skin to crawl in the process.

Still another object of my invention is to pro-' vide a compactly designed and simplified device which may also readily be employed to stimulate different portions of the human body regardless of the contours involved.

A further object of my invention is to permit the use of different types of massaging and stimulating roller assemblies for special type of massaging and stimulating and making it possible to readily employ such assemblies by their easy removal from and replacement on the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which permits the removal and replacement of the roller assemblies for cleaning, in order to maintain hygienic conditions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for changing the normal position of the roller assemblies in order to allow the use of th device for massaging and stimulating any portion of the body.

Other objects and advantages and the novel features of my invention and its characteristics will be more readily understood from the detailed description which follows,'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, and in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the underside portion of the device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device embodying my invention and showing the two positions the roller assembly may assume;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the details of the jack member and stop elements;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the device embodying my invention showing a modified type of jack for the roller assembly;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modified type of roller;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a modified type of roller; and

Fig. '7 is an elevational view of still another type of roller.

The structural details of the invention as revealed in the drawing which, by this reference, is made a part hereof, consist of a frame, designated generally by reference character, A. Theframe is fabricated from a singlesheet. oi metal.

having inherent spring like qualities and consists of a top i and end walls 2 and 3. The end-walls terminate in transversely positioned sockets 4 and 5 respectively, shown in Figure 2 in dotted line, each of which fisadapted to receive and seat anchoring pins ii and 7 respectively. The end walletv and 3. are relatively, vertical and are joined to top 3 by gradually-curving portions.8 and 9" respectively. The frame, asformed, together with the, inherent flexibility of the material froinwhich it is fabricated, gives the frame the resiliency necessary forits successfuleim ployment as a support for the, massaging-and stimulating elements of the device.

There is providedat eachsideof and asan integralpart of.the .top.,l of the frame, downwardlyextending, grip elements it and H which reduce .the flexibility of and reinforces the frame at this point in order toprcvidea substantial gripping surface and to prevent its bending from the thrust created by the extension ofthe jack member yet to be described. Secured, in any desirable mannerto the ,.und erside of. the top. i and confined between grip elementsifland ii is a catch l2, the functionof which will become evident from. thedescription which follows.

A plurality of links, l3; possessing identical longitudinal measurements, are positioned in end to end relationship and hingedly connected to from a chain. A plurality of links M, equal in number to and having. the same structural characteristics as links i3, arealso positioned in end to cndrelationship and hingedly connected to each other to form achain. These articulated dual chains, poss es sing identical structural characteristics arejoined to. each otherin spaced lateral relationship by i a plurality of identical pins 25 each,pin forming ,the connecting hinge between pairs oflinks. l3.and l iofleach chain and thereby formsasingle chain belt. A bushe ing it best shown in FiguresB and 4, 5,6, and '7 made of any desirable. material having selflubricating characteristics surrounds eachpin and. is freely rotatable in relation thereto. These bushings define the maximumspacing between the dual chains formed by the links Wan-.114.

Rollers H, the length of which is.slightly less than bushings K6, are fixedlymounted .on the bushingsso that thepins l5 actassha fts for the rollers These rollersarespaced atwell de.-. fined distances on .the .dual. chain belt in. order for .them to apply pressureon the critical por tions of the vascular systemin coordinationwith the normal pulsation of theheart. Rollers 11 may be made-of anyyielding-material, such as a synthetic substancepossessing the characteristics of durability,;lightness inweightand with any desired peripheral configurationprovided the surface createsa minimumsof frictional :re-

sistance. The standard form of roller, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 is cylindrical in cross section and has a smooth peripheral surface. It may also have a plurality of holes, as shown in Fig. 5, formed longitudinally therethrough to add to their massaging effectiveness and the peripheral surface may be fluted, as shown in Fig. 5, or may have a plurality of teats on its peripheral surface as shown in Fig. 7.

The pinslfi'passing through the pairs of links it and I; are fastened in rivet fashion at their free ends so that free but intimate movement is ermitted at the link hinge joints.

The end links Hot and 14a are slightly wider than the remaining links l3 and Hi respectively and have anchor pins 8 and I transversely secured thereto midway between these links. Links, 53b, and Mb are also slightly wider than links [3 and M respectively and have jack member Iii hingedly secured therebetween in any desirablefashion. This .jack member is positioned relative to ,the rollersJl so thatitdoes-not contact the peripheral. surface of the rollers. or'in any way. affect their, rotation. To insure against this possibility stop elements 59 and 25 extend inwardly from the. top of.1inks 13b. and Hibrespectively and limit thehinging movement of jack member it since it is positioned;therebetween. Whenit is desiredto. changethenormal position of the roller assembly as. shown infull line, to the position as. shown in, dotted line, the end 2,: of. jack member [8 .is fitted into the catch it, as indicated by dottedlinesinFig. 2.,

It should be noted, as. indicated bythedotted lines, that the contour of the. top 1 andendl of the frame A. is also changed by .thegincreased tension due to the placementof the jack member it ,into the .position asshown. in dotted lines.

The normal position ofthe roller assembly may b chansedby,othermeans, one. ofwhich is illustrated in Fig, A, in which links-.I3candl lc (not shown) have a pin 22transversely secured therebetween, Linkj 23v is hingedly secured thereto. Link Mhas one. oi. its ends .hingedly secured to the, free end of link 23 and the other of its ends is hingedly secured to apin 25 transversely positioned .in relation ,to grip elements it and l I. A sleeve 2t1is slidably positionedon link 24 and is adapted tdfit ,overthe hinge formed between -links 23v and f2 4, when the links are, positioned' as indicated by thedotted lines. in Fig. 4. When the roller assembly .is in. normal operatingposition, thereis a knee, action relationship between links 23 and 24,, but when the sleeve is permitted to slide over thejuncture between the two links in order to.,,change,the position of .the roller assembly and increase the ,tension thereof, the knee action is entirely eliminated.

The roller assemblyhereinabove described is removably anchored to framev ..A ,by. setting the pins .6. and l in. the, transversely. locatedjsockets i-and 5. The roller assemblyis held intensioned relation to the frame ,bythe inherent flexibility of the material. .from,;which ,the frame is, fabricated and thepositionpf end walls 2 ,and3 ,of the frame. Thus while the roller ,assembly is re-, tamed-under. tension,. there is.,sufficient fiexibility .in the ,frameand .the. articulated. con; struction of the chains to permitthe rollers to follow .the contour of, .any .portion. .oithe. body to which the .device mavbe applied However, it may be desired to increase. the- .tension. of..the roller. assembly and-t0 also change, the: normal position of the.. rollers;in1 relatiodto the frame in. O de i permi t e.r a a insan s mula ins rollers to follow the contours of the body. This, of course, may be accomplished by the use of any one of the jack members heretofore described. It should be noted that a roller extends beyond the ends 2 and 3 of the frame A. By this construction no part of the frame can contact any portion of the body nor can the hair on the body be caught by any of the elements of the device.

Roller assemblies having rollers of the type shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6, or Fig. 7, may be employed in order to induce different forms of stimulation and massaging and since the roller assembly is removably anchored to the frame, the device may be provided with a multiple number of roller assemblies for the purpose of permitting the user to receive different modes of massage and stimulation.

A roller assembly having smooth rollers, with 'or without longitudinal holes therethrough, is made from.material having inherent resiliency to insure against tissue damage by their movement over the body and is designed to squeeze quiescent blood in the capillaries and body tissue into the venous system of the body and allow the entrance therein of refreshed blood. That this occurs is evident from the exhilirating sensation felt on stimulation by massage.

A roller assembly having fluted rollers is made 7 from similar material but has less resiliency than the smooth rollers and is designated to knead the fatty tissue during the massaging operation and permit this tissueto be carried off as body waste.

A roller assembly having a plurality of teats extending from its periphery is made from the same material as the smooth rollers and is designed to caress and penetrate between the wrinkles in the skin and to reach areas difficult to reach by the smooth roller and to excite the nerves adjacent to the skin surface to induce a tingling feeling of excitement at and adjacent to the area being'massa ged.

Although I have found in actual practice that the device as shown and described is efficient and satisfactory in operation, it is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts which will come within the scope of this invention, and therefore I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement herein shown, except as specified in the following claims, in which I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame having springlike qualities as an inherent part thereof, a pair of grip elements extending from the top of the frame adapted to reduce the inherent flexibility of the frame at that point and providing a substantial gripping surface, a socket formed transversely of and at each end of the frame, a roller chain assembly removably secured to said frame in tensioned relationship thereto, and means secured to the roller chain assembly and removably engageable with the underside of the frame top for increasing this tension and changing the normal contour of the chain assembly.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame having springlike qualities as an inherent part thereof, a pair of grip elements extending from the top of the frame adapted to reduce the inherent flexibility of the frame at that point and providing a substantial gripping surface, a socket formed transversely of and at each end of the frame, a roller chain assembly removably secured to said frame in tensioned relationship thereto,

6 means secured to the roller chain assembly and removably engageable with the underside of the frame top for increasing this tension and changing the normal contour of the chain assembly, and stop members formed on the roller chain assembly to limit the movement of said means.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame having springlike qualities as an inherent part thereof, a socket formed transversely of and at each end of the frame, a roller chain assembly removably secured to said frame, said roller chain assembly comprising, a pair of transversely aligned chain belts joined together in spaced relationship, rotatable members supported between said chain belts, a pair of anchoring pins secured to said chain belts and adapted for being seated and anchored in the sockets formed in said frame to thereby hold the chains in tensioned relationship to the frame, said belts when so anchored being adapted to yield longitudinally in relation to the frame in order to allow the rotatable members to conform to the contour of the body as the device is moved over and pressed thereagainst.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame having springlike qualities as an inherent part thereof, a socket formed transversely of and at each end of the frame, a roller chain assembly removably secured to said frame, said roller chain assembly comprising, a pair of transversely aligned chain belts joined together in spaced relationship, rotatable members supported between said chain belts, a pair of anchoring pins secured to said chain belts and adapted for being seated and anchored in the sockets formed in said frame to thereby hold the chains in tensioned relationship to the frame, said belts when so anchored being adapted to yield longitudinally in relation to the frame in order to allow the rotatable members to conform to the contour of the body as the device is moved over and pressed thereagainst, and means secured to the chain belts and removably engageable with the underside of the frame top'for increasing this tension and changing the normal contour of said belt and roller assembly.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame having springlike qualities as an inherent part thereof, a pair of grip elements extending from the top of the frame adapted to reduce the inherent flexibility of the frame at that point and providing a substantial gripping surface, a socket formed transversely of and at each end of the frame, a roller chain assembly secured to said frame, said roller chain assembly comprising, a pair of transversely aligned chain belts joined together in spaced relationship, rotatable members supported between said chain belts, a pair of anchoring pins secured to said chain belts and adapted for being seated and removably anchored in the sockets formed in said frame to thereby hold the chains in tensioned relationship to the frame, said belts when so anchored being adapted to yield longitudinally in relation to the frame in order to allow the rotatable members to conform to the contour of the body as the device is moved over and pressed thereagainst, means secured to the chain belts and removably engageable with the underside of the frame top for increasing this tension and changing the normal contour of said belt and roller assembly, and stop members formed on the chain belts to limit the movement of said means.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame having springlike qualities as an inherent part aessgaea thereof; a. pairof: grip elements zextendingrfrom the toprof thefframe:adaptedzto reduce: the in; herent fiexibility'of the frame; at that pointcand providing a'substantial-gripping surface; a socket formedv transversely ofaand atxeach end of the frame; a roller chain assembly removably. secured. to said frame; saidrollerrchain assembly comprising, a pairrof transversely. aligned chain beltsstjoined together'in spacedrelationship, rotatablemembers supported between saidi chain belts; and a. pair of: anohoring'pins: secured to said; chainvbelts immediately beyond each end rollerrancl adapted for being seated and removably anchored in the' sockets formed. said frame; to thereby hold the chains in tensioned relationship to the'framecsaid belts, when so anchored being adapted" to yield" longitudinally in'zrelation to the frame in order toallow the rotatable, members to conform to the contour of the-:body as'the device is movedover and pressed i thereagainst and to have a roller extending beyondxthe confines of the frame structure.-

7. In a device of the class described, a frame having springlike qualities as an inherent part thereof; a pair of grip elements extendingefrom the top" of the frame adapted to reduce themherent flexibility'of the frame-at that point and providing a substantial gripping surface, a socket formed transversely of andat each end ofthe frame, a roller chain assembly removably secured to said frame, said; roller chain assembly comprising, a pair of transversely aligned chain belts joined together in spacedrelationshinrotatablemembers supported between said chain belts, a pair of anchoringvpins secured to said chain belts immediately beyond each end roller andadapted for being seated and removably anchored in the sockets formed in said frame to thereby hold the chains in tensioned relationship to the frame, said belts'when s0 anchored being adapted to yield longitudinally in relation tothe frame in order' to allow the rotatable members to conform to the contour of'the: body as the-device is moved over and'pressed' thereagainst and to have a'roller extending beyond 8 therconfines out; the z-framezstrnctureararrd means secured; tor-theschaiinbelts: andsremovablyt enagageahlez with- ;tlietundersidezofz the; frame topnior inoreasingitliisetension.andtchanging;themormal contour of; said beltcand-lrollerassembly;

8; In: azidevice of; the CIESSidSCIibBd,.fiELfIflIIIE havingxspringlike: qualities: as: an inherent-part thereof, a=pairrof1grip elements extending-from the: topisofl the; frame? adapted'ztomeducea thawinherenti fiexibility of the: framezahthatl point: and providing :a isubst antiah gripping: surface; va socket formedsiransversely .Ofi-L and: at; eachmend; of; the frame, a. roller: chaimassemblys removablya-se curechto: said; frame, saidiroller: chain. assembly comprising, av.pairrofxtransverselyialignedichain belts joinedtogether: in spaced: relationshipgroe tatable members supported; betweem saint; chain belts,v a: pair of: anchoring? pinsa secured'; tcc said chain belts immediately beyond" each endiroller and: adaptedqfor." being seatedziand; removahly anchoredtin the sockets; formed: in: said: frame to. thereby holdithe: chainssirrtensionedtrelatione ship to; the: framc;. said .abelts when-so anchored being; adapted J to yield longitudinally; in: rela:- tionto the frame in order-to allowthe rotatable members :to conform: to'zthevcontounrof :itlie body as the device: is movediioiverf'andi pressed ftheretagainst and i to have a': roller: extending: beyond the. confmesiatteach end:ofi.the:frame2.stmcture; means secured:to;.the chainzbeltsaandiremovahly engageabler-withxthe undersidezaofatheiframe top for: increasingthis:tension and ichanging-Lthe' non-:- mal contour of said belt and roller assemblyzfami stop: members formed onthescliairrrbeltsato :limit the movement of fsaid-gmeans;

References Cited: in, the: fileeof this. patent UNITED STATES PN-TENTS Number. Name Date.

1327,8741 Hemp, Oct; 2011 1931 FOREIGN *EATENTSh Number Country Date 711030 Germany" Feb? 9; 1942 

